The Billionaire's Twisted Crown

Scarlett's action brought the crowd undivided attention as heads turned and conversations died. Isabella gasped. Harry looked up, his face draining of color.

Scarlett didn't care. She was angry. Her heart was broken. And maybe...just maybe...she was done being the girl who got played and used.

The room was frozen in stunned silence,

Alejandro stood like a statue, unmoved and unreadable.

Scarlett's lips had barely left his when she whispered, "Will you marry me?"

His eyes locked onto hers. Cold. Calculating and Curious about who this lady might be and what her motive is.

Her heart pounded. The boldness she earlier portrayed was fading fast, replaced by adrenaline and a creeping sense of dread. What had she just done?

Alejandro tilted his head slightly, studying her like a puzzle.

"You're drunk," he said, voice low and sharp. "And reckless."

Scarlett swallowed. "Maybe" she said. But inside her head it was "I'm done for, how could I have...ohh God, Please! Please! Please! don't let him humiliate me in front of everyone."

Behind them, Harry's arm had slipped from Isabella's waist. Her smug smile faltered. The crowd murmured, shifting uncomfortably, unsure whether to stay or flee.

Alejandro turned to Harry, his voice slicing through the tension like a blade.

"You throw a party in my house. Propose to a woman. And you didn't think to ask for my permission?"

Harry scrambled to his feet, panic flashing in his eyes. "Bro, I... I didn't think you'd be back tonight."

Alejandro's brow arched. "You called me 'bro'? That's funny. I don't recall having a brother."

Harry's face turned ghostly pale. The crowd stared at him, stunned into silence.

Everyone had believed the Kosh family had a close relationship with the Moritz. But now... this? What were they hearing?

The truth was, Harry had only met Alejandro twice. Once at a corporate event where Alejandro had been the keynote speaker. And the second time, briefly, at Alejandro's mother's birthday party...where his cousin Beatrice had introduced Alejandro as her fiancé.

Alejandro's gaze swept across the room, cold and commanding. "Everyone out. Now."

No shouting. No threats. Just a simple, quiet command.

The guests scattered like leaves in a storm.

Isabella, however, wasn't done. She stepped forward, her voice sharp. "Excuse me, this is my fiancé's house."

Harry's eyes widened in horror. He reached out and pinched her arm, trying to stop her from saying more. "Don't," he hissed under his breath.

But Isabella, in her arrogance, ignored him. She thought Alejandro was overstepping. She hadn't fully seen his face yet...he was still standing in the shadows.

"This is my fiancé's house," she repeated, louder this time. "How dare you disrupt my engagement party!"

Harry wished he could disappear. He couldn't decide if Isabella was just prideful...or stupidly ignorant.

He snapped. "Stop it! It's his house!"

Isabella froze, stunned. Her mouth opened, then closed. She looked around, realizing the crowd was gone. Only a few staff remained, watching in horror.

Scarlett, meanwhile, stood to the side, arms crossed, watching the chaos unfold. For once, she wasn't the one being humiliated. And it felt...undeniably satisfying.

When Isabella heard this she turned and face Harry her voice rising as she shouted at him, Harry was shocked by her outburst but couldn't accept being humiliated by a woman so he shouted back at her, and they both turned on each other, their voices rising in a heated argument.

Alejandro had had enough.

"Get the fuck out of my house," he barked, stepping fully into the light.

Isabella turned...and her breath caught.

She hadn't seen his face before. But now, she was speechless. Alejandro Moritz was devastatingly handsome, his presence overwhelming. His tailored suit clung to his tall frame like armor. His eyes were sharp, his jaw set.

She gave him a shy smile, suddenly flustered. Her anger melted into something else entirely. She was ogling him.

Harry's jaw clenched. He hadn't expected Isabella to flirt with another man...especially not in front of him.

Alejandro's expression darkened. Her reaction only fueled his disgust.

He snapped his fingers, and two of his men stepped forward.

"Throw them out," he ordered.

Harry and Isabella were dragged toward the door, still bickering.

Scarlett took a step forward, intending to follow them out quietly.

But Alejandro raised a hand.

"You stay," he said, pointing directly at her.

Scarlett froze.

She had wanted to make a quiet escape. But now... It seemed impossible.

Earlier she couldn't help but watch her ex and Isabella disgrace themselves.

Scarlett's knees nearly buckled. She hadn't expected this. She hadn't expected anything.

The room emptied and silence settled in.

Alejandro walked to the bar, poured himself a drink, then turned to face Scarlett.

"Now," he said, sipping slowly. "Let's talk about the...kiss."

Scarlett's breath caught.

Alejandro's eyes landed on Scarlett again. "You kissed me. Why?"

Scarlett hesitated. Then, with a shaky breath, she said, "Because I wanted to show him"..."no, I wanted to take revenge."

The silence in the mansion was almost suffocating. The only sound now was the faint ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner.

Scarlett stood near the fireplace, arms folded tightly, her breath shallow. Alejandro Moritz leaned against the bar, his tailored suit immaculate, his gaze sharp and unreadable.

He broke the silence first.

Alejandro coolly said "So that's your reason? To kiss me in front of strangers? Bold move. But a foolish decision."

Scarlett's lips parted, her voice dry.

"I wasn't thinking. I just..."

Alejandro snapped. "And that makes it worse. You weren't thinking. You acted. Did you really believe I'd choose you to be my bride? Or was that just your excuse to get my attention?"

Scarlett's jaw clenched. Her heart thudded. Anger flared in her chest, but words failed her.

Scarlett muttered. "I wasn't trying to get your attention."

Alejandro chuckled, low and sharp.

"You're a terrible liar. But bold. That's intriguing."

Scarlett stepped forward, her voice steadier now.

"I wasn't trying to impress you. I...I just wanted to get back at Harry for cheating on me with my cousin."

Alejandro circled around her slowly

"What does that have to do with me, Were you trying to humiliate your ex or me? Make a scene? Or did you really want to be my wife?"

Scarlett blinked, stunned by the question. She hadn't expected him to take her seriously. She hadn't expected anything beyond rejection or mockery. But now, standing in his living room, she felt the weight of her impulsive decision pressing down on her chest.

What was I thinking? He's powerful and dangerous. And I kissed him.

"Answer me."

His voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She swallowed hard.

"I just wanted to tell Harry that I could always find better. And what better way than to marry someone...better?"

Alejandro's gaze sharpened.

"So I was your choice of upgrade."

The air between them thickened. Alejandro studied her like a predator sizing up its prey...curious, calculating and dangerous.

He stepped closer, his voice low. "Then tell me, what's in it for me if I marry you?"

Scarlett's breath caught. She hadn't thought that far. She hadn't expected him to entertain the idea, let alone ask what he'd gain. Alejandro Moritz had everything. What could she possibly offer?

Her silence stretched.

Alejandro scoffed. "I guess you have nothing to offer."

His gaze didn't waver. It raked her slowly and deliberately, from her tousled hair to the blush blooming on her cheeks, down to the curve of her waist. He didn't hide his disappointment.

"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. You're just below average. I'm sure you must be delusional to make such a request."

Scarlett dropped her gaze as Shame washed over her. Her stomach twisted and her chest burned. She was angry at Harry, and everyone else. But mostly at herself.

Alejandro's eyes remained pinned on her. Her kiss had startled him. She seemed drunk. And when she asked him to marry her, he knew something was wrong. But it was also... perfect. He needed a solution to his problem. And she might just be it. But he couldn't trust her.

He stepped even closer, his hands brushing her hair slightly, as he played with the strands .

"You see, I can't marry a...nobody. And definitely not for your sick revenge plan."

Scarlett's head snapped up. Her voice now sharp and laced with fury.

"I might be a nobody...but you don't need to insult me. My actions were impulsive, yes. But I don't want to marry a man like you either. You're not even to my taste. So let's just forget this ever happened."

Alejandro blinked. For the first time, he looked genuinely surprised.

He opened his mouth to reply, but she cut him off.

"Don't bother. I'll take my leave now."

But Alejandro stopped her. "It's 1 a.m. You can stay for the night. Leave in the morning."

Scarlett was about to refuse, pride flaring again, when he added, "If anything happens to you, I won't be responsible."

He called a maid to lead her to a guest room. This time, Scarlett didn't refuse. It would be foolish to leave at this ungodly hour without a personal car. She nodded silently and followed the maid.

Alejandro watched her go, his expression unreadable.